délivre

Délivre is the third-person singular present indicative form of the French verb délivrer. The verb has several related senses, most notably to set free or to release someone or something, and to issue or hand over a document, permit, or certificate. The form délivre is therefore used in a range of contexts from liberation to administration.

In its sense of releasing, délivrer can describe freeing a person from captivity or danger, or discharging someone from an obligation. In administrative and legal contexts, it means to issue or grant an official document or authorization, such as a passport, visa, license, prescription, or civil act. In commercial or logistical contexts, it can mean to deliver or hand over goods or services, as in the act of delivering items to a recipient.

Conjugation and usage: délivrer is a regular -er verb. Present tense forms are je délivre, tu délivres, il délivre, nous délivrons, vous délivrez, ils délivrent. The past participle is délivré, used with the auxiliary avoir to form the passé composé: j'ai délivré.

Etymology: the word originates from Old French delivrer, formed with the prefix de- plus livrer (to deliver), with the underlying sense extending from handing over to setting someone free.

Notes: délivre commonly appears in phrases about issuing documents (with authorities or professionals) and about releasing people or items from confinement or obligation, reflecting its core dual sense of liberation and handover.